India evacuates tens of thousands as ‘very severe’ Cyclone Arnab nears

What the report says

India is moving tens of thousands of people from low-lying areas along its eastern coast as Cyclone Arnab strengthens over the Bay of Bengal, according to Al Jazeera, AFP and Reuters. The storm was described by India’s meteorological authorities as a “very severe” cyclonic storm and was forecast to reach the coast on Wednesday morning, with Andhra Pradesh and Odisha under warning.

Al Jazeera reported that the cyclone was located about 260km southeast of Visakhapatnam, the largest city in Andhra Pradesh, and was expected to track northwest before landfall. Officials said the storm could bring sustained winds of 115-125km/h and stronger gusts. The article said more than 12 million people live along the projected path of the system, which could affect a broad stretch of India’s eastern coast and move inland afterward.

By Monday night, nearly 50,000 people had been taken to shelters in Andhra Pradesh, out of an estimated 400,000 who may need evacuation, state disaster official Prakhar Jain told Reuters. In Odisha, authorities reportedly planned to relocate 48,000 residents. Rail services were also disrupted, with several train cancellations and suspensions reported in eastern and southern India.

The report also noted that nearby Nepal advised tourists to avoid high-altitude areas because the cyclone could trigger heavy rain, snow and avalanches later in the week. The situation matters because Bay of Bengal cyclones frequently threaten India’s eastern seaboard, where dense populations and coastal infrastructure face recurring storm risk.